Clematis plant named `EVIfive`

ABSTRACT

A new large-flowered Clematis cultivar which produces violet purple flowers with a dark red central stripe and yellow anthers. The variety is compact, climbing, clinging and suitable for patio container growth. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for ornamental use in outdoor settings in a variety of climatic conditions. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCOVERY

The present discovery constitutes a new and distinct variety of Clematiswhich originated from a controlled crossing between two unnamedseedlings and was discovered in a cultivated area.

The two parents were crossed and the resulting seed was planted in acontrolled environment. The new variety is named `EVIfive`.

The objective of the hybridization of this Clematis variety for thenursery industry was to create a new and distinct variety with uniquequalities:

1. Large, distinctly colored flowers

2. Orderly plant habit

3. Compact growth and flowering habit, making it suitable for patiocontainer growth.

These qualities required improvement in Clematis varieties that were incommercial cultivation and the objectives have been substantiallyachieved in the new variety, as evidenced by the unique combination ofcharacteristics that are present in `EVIfive` which distinguish it fromall other varieties of which we are aware.

Seedlings from the hybridization were evaluated in a controlledenvironment. `EVIfive` was selected by Raymond J. Evison and Mogens N.Olesen in their Clematis development program in Domarie Vinieries LesSauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom in1988.

Asexual reproduction of `EVIfive` by cuttings was first done by RaymondJ. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in Domarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St.Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom in 1990. Thisinitial and subsequent propagations have demonstrated that thecharacteristics of `EVIfive` are true to type and are transmitted fromone generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustrations show as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, tepals and leaves of the new variety, withdifferent tepals shown in various stages of maturity. The tepal form,tepal counts, tepal colors, tepal buds, tepal parts, pedicels and thecultivar's foliage are depicted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of `EVIfive`, as observed in itsgrowth throughout the flowering period in glasshouses at DomarieVineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, UnitedKingdom. Certain phenotypical characteristics of the variety may varyunder different environmental, cultural, agronomic, seasonal, andclimatic conditions. Color references are made using The RoyalHorticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 1995.

For a comparison, the nearest existing Clematis variety is `EVIone` avariety currently being applied for as Application Ser. No. 08/627,506.Chart 1 details several physical characteristics of the applicant andthe comparison varieties.

                  CHART 1    ______________________________________               `EVIfive`  `EVIone`    ______________________________________    Plant Height short, 1-3 meters                              1-3 meters    Leaf Main Color                 RHS 137 A    Between RHS 137 B                              and RHS 143 A    Flowering Period                 spring/fall  spring/fall    Anther Color Yellow       Cream    Tepal Color  RHS 60 B     RHS 84 C    (upper)    Plant Habit  Herbaceous   Herbaceous    ______________________________________

Parents: Unnamed seedling×Unnamed seedling

Classification:

Botanical.--Clematis L.

Commercial.--Early, large-flowered cultivar.

Flower and Flower Bud

Blooming habit: Recurrent.

Flower bud:

Size.--40-50 mm in length.

Bud form.--Elongated and ovoid.

Bud color.--Green-grey bud at 1/4 opening.

Sepals.--None.

Peduncle.--Length: 110-150 mm average length. Color: Medium green.R.H.S. 143 C of the Green Group. Strength: Erect.

Borne.--Singly.

Flower bloom:

Size.--Large, 220 mm. on average.

Form.--Upon opening, concave, flat with tepals reflexing.

Color.--Upon opening, the upper surface is R.H.S. 78 A of the PurpleColor Group with the central bar of the flower being 72 A of the RedPurple Color Group. Upon opening, the reverse side is green. Afteropening, the upper surface is R.H.S. 78 B the Purple Color Group. Afteropening, the reverse surface is R.H.S. 82 D of the Purple Violet ColorGroup. The base of the tepals is R.H.S. 72 A of the Red Purple Group.The general tonality from a distance is Pink.

Variations.--Red-Purple central bar R.H.S. 72 A.

Fragrance.--None.

Lasting quality on plant and as a cut flower.--Short-medium lasting.

Tepals:

Petalage.--Single. Average range: 6-8.

Shape.--Individual tepal shape is elliptic.

Cross section.--Slightly reflexed.

Undulation of margin.--Weak.

Tepal apex.--Broadly acute.

Recurvature of tip.--Slightly curved.

Persistence.--Drop off cleanly.

Arrangement.--Tepals are arranged regularly.

Reproductive organs:

Pollen.--Color: Cream. Abundance: Average.

Anthers.--Size: Medium. Color: Yellow. Arrangement: Regular.

Filaments.--Color: Violet.

Stigmas.--Central, mildly protruding.

Styles.--Color: Grey/Green.

Ovaries.--Normal.

Plant

Plant form: Climbing and spreading.

Plant growth: Average vigor.

Height: Seasons growth attains 2-2.5 meter.

Hardiness: Trials to date show the variety hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.

Stems:

Color.--Young wood: Green with red coloration. Older wood: Brown.

Internodes.--Cylindrical. Length 120-170 mm.

Petioles.--Incidence: Moderate. Size: Average length: 60 mm. Color:Red-green. Clasping: Clasps by leaf petiole.

Bark: Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Rough.

Plant foliage: Deciduous. Trifoliate.

Leaf size.--Medium. Length 100 mm.

Abundance.--Average.

Color.--Top: Medium green. R.H.S. 137 A of the Green Color Group.Bottom: Light green. R.H.S. 137 C of the Green Color Group. New growth:Reddish green. Older growth: Red brown.

Plant leaves and leaflets:

Stipules.--Absent.

Petiole.--Length: 60 mm. Underneath: Without prickles.

Leaf edge.--Terminal leaflet margin is entire.

Shape.--Base of leaflet: Rounded. Apex of leaflet: Acute.

Texture.--Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side: Ribbed.

Surface.--Matte Finish.

Disease resistance: Subject to any disease that normally attacks thespecies, however the new variety is more tolerant to Mildew than someClematis.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Clematis plant,substantially as herein shown and detailed, as a distinct and novelClematis cultivar with its large violet-red striped flowers with ayellow center, which is a compact plant with symmetrical flowers makingthis an unique cultivar suitable for ornamental use in a wide